Meat Hygiene Service Annual Report

Baroness Nicol: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the 1999-2000 annual report for the Meat Hygiene Service.

Baroness Hayman: The 1999-2000 annual report and accounts for the Meat Hygiene Service have been laid before Parliament. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman on 28 June (WA 81) on the type and make of cars used by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether the list includes cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency for the use of Ministers and senior officials.

Baroness Hayman: No. This information was provided in the Answer given by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, on 24 July (Official Report, col. WA 16).

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6 July (WA 148), which cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency are for the use of Ministers and senior officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and what is the number, type and make of each vehicle.

Baroness Hayman: The answer given on 24 July (Official Report, col. WA 16) by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, covered this issue.

European Investment Bank: Nominations for Vice-President

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 17 July (WA 64), whether under the statutes of the European Investment Bank the sole and exclusive power of nominating presidents and vice-presidents resides with the Bank's board of directors and not national governments; and, if so, whether they will reconsider their Answer.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Under the Statute of the European Investment Bank the president and vice-presidents of the Bank are appointed by the board of governors on a proposal from the board of directors. A nomination for a vice-president post is made by the governor for the relevant member state. The practice has been for the board of directors formally to propose the candidate nominated by that governor.

Far Eastern Markets Impact of Turmoil on UK

Baroness Crawley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the impact, if any, on the United Kingdom economy of the turmoil in the financial markets of the Far East which began with devaluation of the Thai baht in July 1997.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Excluding China, UK exports to South-East Asia fell in 1998. Detailed assessments were published in the economy annexes of the 1998 Budget and Pre-Budget Reports [HC620 and Cmnd 4076 respectively).

Poorer Countries Debt Relief

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the conclusion of a new report by Christian Aid that despite promises by the Government to cancel 100 per cent of the debt of the poorest countries, less than 4 per cent had been delivered in time for the G8 summit in Okinawa.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government are meeting their promise to cancel 100 per cent of the debts of countries as they go through the heavily indebted poor countries initiative (HIPC). Once countries reach their decision point under the HIPC initiative they can immediately stop making payments on all their debts outstanding to the UK Government.
	So far nine countries have reached their decision point, of which eight owed money to the UK. For these countries all payments to the UK Government have already ceased. In total the debt relief to these countries afforded by the HIPC initiative and the Government's 100 per cent debt relief policy will total £241 million.
	At Okinawa the G7 expressed their hope that a further 100 countries would reach decision point by the end of 2000. If they did, the total amount that the UK Government would be writing off for these 20 countries would be £659 million. The key aim is to release resources for poverty reduction. The 100 per cent policy and the HIPC process are designed so that the links between debt reduction and how these resources can be used as part of a comprehensive, country owned poverty reduction strategy is clearly established.

Entrepreneurs: Attraction to UK

Lord Stone of Blackheath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to attract to the United Kingdom entrepreneurs offering exceptional economic benefit but who do not meet the current criteria under the Immigration Rules.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: There are already specific categories in the Immigration Rules designed specially for entrepreneurs. These ensure that those who wish to make significant personal investments in creating employment can enter to engage in business. There are also clear routes for corporations wishing to establish branches and subsidiaries here. But the Government's competitiveness White Paper signalled the economic importance of a dynamic approach to building a knowledge-driven economy and the need to attract people with scarce skills and those willing to set up businesses which create jobs. That paper included a specific commitment to examine the scope for further encouraging certain entrepreneurs to consider migrating to the United Kingdom.
	In the light of that commitment we have assessed the current Immigration Rules for business and entrepreneurs and have concluded they may not always fit well with a knowledge-driven economy since they require minimum levels of investment and do not focus on innovation. Moreover, the current routes for entrepreneurs do not enable us to focus on those applications with the greatest potential of economic benefit.
	We have therefore decided to introduce a scheme (which will be piloted as a concessionary arrangement outside the Immigration Rules in the first instance) aimed at attracting entrepreneurial innovators to the United Kingdom. This pilot scheme will come into force on 4 September this year.
	The key features of the innovators entry route are these: it is intended to attract and select outstanding entrepreneurs whose business proposals will result in exceptional economic benefits for the United Kingdom. Selection will take place on a rigorous and demanding basis but one that is designed to be flexible to accommodate a wide variety of applications with different strengths and weaknesses. No minimum investment is required. There is no requirement for personal funds to be invested but third party funding will be permitted. Applicants will need to submit a business plan and a curriculum vitae with supporting documents.
	My honourable friend the Minister of State for the Home Office (Mrs Roche) is today placing copies of the draft guidance for applicants who wish to apply under this pilot scheme in the Library. Information about the scheme will also be placed on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website.

Forensic Science Service Annual Report

Baroness Nicol: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to lay before Parliament the annual report for the Forensic Science Service.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has laid before Parliament copies of the Forensic Science Service's annual report and accounts for 1999-2000.
	The Forensic Science Service (FSS) met and exceeded its financial target to achieve a 3 per cent return on capital employed and maintained accreditation through external bodies. However, it did fail to achieve the stretching efficiency gain target and service delivery targets. This was a challenging year for the FSS--further expanding its workforce, absorbing the associated recruitment and training costs and devoting large human resources to the DNA expansion project. It was also the organisation's first year as a trading fund. The targets and plans agreed for 1999-2000 were ambitious, and while the FSS failed to achieve targets in two key areas it demonstrated a significant improvement in both turnaround times and delivery dates met.
	The targets for 2000-01 are set out in the following table, alongside those for 1999-2000.
	
		
			 FSS Agency Targets 1999-2000 2000-01 
			 Financial Indicators 
			 Return on capital employed Min 3% 10% 
			 Efficiency gain (three year ruling) Min 10% Min 10% 
			 Quality of Service Indicators 
			 Turnaround time 24 days 24 days 
			 Exceed 99% of urgent and critical  classified cases n/a Pilot 
			 Achieve 90% agreed delivery dates   
			 Put in place service level agreements  with police forces (BVAs)   
			 Put in place routine and robust  customer satisfaction measurement  processes (milestone 1999-2000  only)  n/a 
			 Demonstrate year on year  improvements in police (customer)  satisfaction --  
			 Quality Indicators 
			 Achieve external quality accreditation  to ISO9000 and NAMAS standards

Police Complaints Authority Appointments

Baroness Nicol: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make further appointments to the Police Complaints Authority.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My honourable friend the Minister of State for the Home Office (Mr Clarke) has invited Mr Duncan Gear, Mrs Anne Boustred and Mrs Alison McDougall to serve as members of the Police Complaints Authority. Mr Gear took up his appointment on 1 June and Mrs Boustred on 5 June. Mrs McDougall will take up her appointment on 18 September. All appointments are for a three-year period initially.
	Mr Gear was previously a Senior Inspector with the Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate; Mrs Bousted joins the authority after serving as principal advocate in the Legal Services Directorate of Essex County Council; and Mrs McDougall was previously the deputy head of Equity Research, Europe for Lehman Brothers.

Kosovo: Police Manpower

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the planned and current levels of police manpower in Kosovo under the authority of United Nations Mission in Kosovo (a) in the International Police Force and (b) in the locally recruited police.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The United Nations International Police in Kosovo has an authorised force level of 3,593 regular police officers and 1,125 special police officers. We have been informed by the United Nations Secretariat that there are currently 3,215 regular police and 707 special police deployed in theatre.
	The OSCE-run police school in Kosovo has an authorised personnel level of 211 international police trainers. At present there are 164 trainers in theatre. The school has to date recruited and trained 1,381 local cadets for the Kosovo police service: the target is to recruit and train 4,000 cadets by May 2001.

Entry Clearance Study

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the report of the 1998 Joint (Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office) Study on entry clearance.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The joint study report on entry clearance has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The study was conducted between January and April 1998 by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office, Cabinet Office and Treasury. Its conclusions led to the establishment of the new Joint Entry Clearance Unit (JECU) as part of the Government's wider commitment to providing a "fairer, faster and firmer" entry clearance process. The study report may be of interest to noble Lords in the context of the memorandum of understanding agreed between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office, which was placed in the Libraries on 7 June.

Hong Kong and the Sino-British Joint Declaration

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the next report to Parliament on Hong Kong and the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The seventh report in this series, covering the period January to June 2000, was published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. A copy of the report is also available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website (www.fco.gov.uk). The report includes a foreword by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary. I commend the report to the House.

Diplomatic Missions and the NationalNon-domestic Rate

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list the names of the diplomatic missions and international organisations in the United Kingdom which have outstanding balances of over £10,000 as at 4 April in respect of national non-domestic rates.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Most diplomatic missions and international organisations in the United Kingdom meet their obligations and pay the national non-domestic rates requested from them. However, at 4 April 2000 the following missions owed over £10,000 in respect of national non-Domestic rates (NNDR):
	
		
			  Amount 
			 Country £ 
			 Algeria 37,025.01 
			 Angola 19,855.30 
			 Cameroon 23,849.51 
			 Iran 84,348.90 
			 Jordan 30,674.95 
			 Senegal 10,927.33 
			 Yemen 29,903.16 
			  
			 Total 236,584.16 
		
	
	Seven additional diplomatic missions who owe £10,000 or more in respect of national non-domestic rates and who have made arrangements with the Valuation Office Agency to clear outstanding debts or who are awaiting instructions from their governments have not been included in this list. The total amount outstanding from all missions, including these exceptions, is £1,074,469.

Best Practice Research Scholarships

Baroness Walmsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the £3 million budget for the best practice research scholarships programme for teachers has been allocated; and how much was applied for:
	(a) by individuals; and
	(b) by organisations.

Baroness Blackstone: The department received applications for best practice research scholarships from 120 groups representing 913 individual teachers and a further 475 applications from individuals not associated with a group bid. All of the £3 million allocated will be distributed to successful candidates. However, we are not yet able to announce the final distribution, nor what percentage of group or individual bids have been successful. The department will write to the noble Baroness as soon as possible.

Special Educational Needs Draft Code

Baroness Darcy de Knayth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the proposal in the new draft code of practice on the assessment of children with special educational needs to replace the word "specify" with the words "set out" in both the Special Educational Needs Regulations and the code is intended to change the current legal position whereby special educational provision specified in a statement should normally be quantified (as per the advice in paragraph 4:28 of the existing code and the judgment in L v. Clarke and Somerset County Council 1998).

Baroness Blackstone: The Government have no plans to change Section 324 of the Education Act 1996, which requires the special educational provision in a statement of special educational needs to be specified. Neither the 1996 Act nor the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1994 require provision to be quantified. We are consulting on a proposal to change the wording of the code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs and the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1994 to simplify the language used. Under our proposals it would still be appropriate for local education authorities to set out provision in quantified terms in cases where it is necessary, but not so in others. We will consider carefully all of the responses to consultation on this and other issues.

Special Educational Needs Draft Code

Baroness Darcy de Knayth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they propose to amend Section 324(3)(b) of the Education Act 1996 to remove local education authorities duty to "specify" special education provision in a statement and replace it with the duty to "set out" special educational provision in order to bring the Act in line with the proposed new regulations.

Baroness Blackstone: The Government are not currently proposing changes to Section 324 of the Education Act 1996.

Special Educational Needs Draft Code

Baroness Darcy de Knayth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide the text of the legal advice on which the Department for Education and Employment is basing its opinion that there is no difference in meaning between the word "specify", as this is used in the schedule (Part B) to the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1994 and the words "set out", which they propose as a replacement for "specifying" in the amended regulations

Baroness Blackstone: No, we do not feel it would be appropriate to publish advice.

Special Educational Needs Draft Code

Baroness Darcy de Knayth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide the list of voluntary organisations and parents' groups who have been sent the consultation draft of the new code of practice on special educational needs.

Baroness Blackstone: The initial list of voluntary organisations, parent groups and organisations with a special interest in special educational needs who have received the draft copy of the revised SEN code of practice is shown in the following list. The noble Baroness should be aware that there will be others who will have requested copies from our publications centre. Parent groups Parents Initiative Parent Network Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) Campaign for Real Education (CRE) Campaign for the Advancement of State Education (CASE) The National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) The Support Society for Children of High Intelligence (CHI) European Council for High Ability (ECHA) The Institute of High Ability National Confederation for Parent Teachers Association (NCPTA) Parentline Parents for Inclusion Alliance of Parents and Schools Education Forum Home and School Council Special education and related groups National Society for Epilepsy National Association for Mental Health (MIND) Mental Health Foundation Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults (MENCAP) SCOPE Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) National Society for Mentally Handicapped People in Residential Care Royal Association in Aid of the Deaf National Deaf Children's Society British Deaf Association National Deafblind and Rubella Association (SENSE) NSC of Hospital Teachers British Association of Teachers of the Deaf Royal National Institute for the Deaf Association for all Speech Impaired Children (AFASIC) College of Speech Therapists Association for Professional Music Therapists in Great Britain Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) Opsis College of Teachers of the Blind British Dyslexia Association Dyslexia Institute Dyspraxia Foundation National Autistic Society Association of Workers with Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Association for Education Welfare Management (AEWM) Association of Educational Psychologists British Psychological Society National Association for the Education of Sick Children National Standing Conference of Hospital Teachers Northern Association of Hospital Managers London Association of Hospital and Home Teachers British Diabetic Association. LEA Special Educational Needs Support Service Teams Special Educational Needs Tribunal Special Educational Needs Interest Group Association of Independent Residential Special Schools National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) National Association of Advisory Officers for Special Educational Needs Special Education Needs Advisory Council (SENNAC) Council for Disabled Children Alliance for Inclusive Education IPSEA

Science and Innovation White Paper

Baroness Nicol: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish a White Paper on science and innovation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I am today publishing the White Paper Excellence and Opportunity, a science and innovation policy for the 21st century. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Circle Line Suspensions

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list those days during the year 2000 to date when services on the Circle Line of London Underground have been interrupted or suspended for more than a one-hour period, indicating the cause of the interruption, or suspended for more than a one-hour period, indicating the cause of the interruption or suspension in each case.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: This is an operational matter for London Underground which has supplied details of suspensions due to recordable incidents of more than one hour on the Circle Line as set out in the table below.
	
		
			 Date Location Cause 
			 19.1.00 Edgware Road sidings Train derailment 
			 20.1.00 Aldgate East/Tower Hill Blockjoint earthing on track 
			 20.1.00 Baker Street/Edgware Road Asset damaged 
			 26.1.00 Baker Street Computer system failure 
			 7.2.00 Edgware Road/Paddington Infrastructure damaged 
			 10.2.00 Edgware Road Train derailment 
			 13.2.00 Aldgate Train derailment 
			 8.3.00 Aldgate Train derailment 
			 10.3.00 Aldgate/Liverpool St. Computer system failure 
			 21.3.00 Aldgate/Liverpool St. Points failure 
			 23.3.00 Blackfriars/Temple Flooding 
			 29.3.00 Aldgate/Liverpool St. Track circuit failure 
			 30.3.00 S. Ken/Gloucester Road Track circuit failure 
			 1.4.00 Gloucester Road Signal problems 
			 7.4.00 Gt. Portland St. Train stalled 
			 9.4.00 Aldgate/Liverpool St. Points failure 
			 13.4.00 Aldgate/Liverpool St. Points failure 
			 4.5.00 Moorgate/Barbican Track circuit failure 
			 15.5.00 Aldgate Track circuit failure 
			 17.5.00 Edgware Rd. Possession overrun 
			 4.6.00 Edgware Rd. Police request 
			 26.6.00 Westminster/St. James's Park Track circuit failure 
		
	
	Note: Recorded incidents exclude suspensions when a decision has been made to withdraw services to enable through services to keep running.

Circle Line Suspensions

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are satisfied that London Underground is providing a satisfactory service on the Circle Line; and, if not, what action they propose to take to see that it is improved.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Circle Line, like other parts of the Underground, has suffered historic under-investment. We are aware that the service provided on the Circle Line has encountered problems arising from this under-investment but are satisfied that these problems are in the process of being rectified in the short term. In the medium and long term problems such as this will be resolved by the large-scale investment that will be drawn into the system by the public/private partnership.

Carbon Emissions

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their long-term plans for a co-ordinated approach to combating the globally adverse economic and social effects of existing levels of carbon emissions; and whether taxation policies, investment in energy conservation, effective encouragement of renewable energy resources and support for research into the conversion of solar radiation into electricity will be part of such plans.

Lord Whitty: As a result of existing levels of emissions, all countries will need to adapt to the effects of climate change. The UK is playing an active part in discussions about adaptation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. At present, the priority for most countries is to assess their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and to begin preparing for adaptation. Funding is available for these purposes through the Global Environment Facility. Further funds for adaptation will become available from the clean development mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol. The Government are also encouraging developing countries to take into account climate change impacts when considering their future development needs.
	The Government believe that developed countries should take the lead in taking action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Programmes are likely to provide for more sustainable use of energy resources, research and investment into low carbon technologies, development of renewable sources of energy and the introduction of fiscal incentives that encourage people and organisations to be more energy efficient. Policies like these will have a significant role to play in any long-term response to climate change and were included in the UK's draft climate change programme which was published in March 2000. The final programme will be published later this year.

Canoeists: Access to Water

Lord Carlile of Berriew: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any proposals to improve and define the availability of access to rivers and canals for bona fide canoeists, including members of canoeing clubs and of educational courses.

Lord Whitty: The Government have been investigating concerns about access to water for canoeists and others. We expect to make an announcement shortly on the next steps following a meeting in May with a range of interest groups, including boaters, anglers and landowners.
	We are already promoting greater voluntary access for canoeists. The Environment Agency, in consultation with the angling and canoeing liaison group, has published a guide to developing voluntary agreements. We have issued a code of practice on conservation, access and recreation for the Environment Agency and for water and sewerage companies.

Abnormal Load Movement

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress the Highways Agency has made in its study to identify the legal, fiscal and institutional issues involved in making changes to abnormal load movement procedures on the trunk road network.

Lord Whitty: The Highways Agency is keen to ensure that any changes to abnormal load movement procedures on the trunk road network do not disadvantage the safety and free flow of traffic on the network. The agency responded to the Home Office's consultation in January 1999 concerning the use of private escorts, supporting the principle. However it pointed out that suitable arrangements would need to be made where it would be necessary to switch from private to police escorts, most noticeably at motorway interchanges.

Farm Scale Evaluation

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are any circumstances in which the use of agricultural land for farm scale evaluation would require planning permission from the relevant local authority.

Lord Whitty: The application of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to farm scale evaluation of genetically modified crops would depend upon whether the use of agricultural land for such evaluations would involve a "material change of use" constituting development for the purpose of that legislation. This would involve the consideration of a number of factors, including whether the use of farm scale evaluation would fall within the definition of "agriculture" and not constitute development. In any event each case would have to be considered on its own merits.
	The Government are unable to give an authoritative interpretation of the legislation, this being a matter for the courts.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government;
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6 July (WA 148) which cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency are for the use of Ministers and senior officials in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; and what is the number, type and make of each vehicle.

Lord Whitty: I refer my noble friend to the reply given by my noble and learned friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton) on Monday 24 July, (Official Report, Col. WA 16).

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 19 June (WA 11-14), which cars are supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency for the use of Ministers and senior officials; and whether they will list them by number, type and make.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: I refer my noble friend to the reply given by my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 July at Cols. WA 15-16. The Government Car and Despatch Agency is operated by the Cabinet Office on behalf of all government departments.

Medium Secure Psychiatric Hospital Beds

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many medium secure psychiatric hospital beds are currently available; and what were the equivalent figures five, 10, 15 and 20 years ago.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Information on the number of medium secure psychiatric hospital beds is not available in the form requested. Data on the average daily number of beds in wards classified as "mental illness--secure units" have been collected annually since 1987-88. Figures for the most recent year available, five years previous and 10 years previous are given in the table.
	
		Average daily number of beds in wards classified as "mental illness--secure unit"
		
			  Number 
			 1998-99 1,747 
			 1993-94 1,029 
			 1988-89 807 
		
	
	Source: Figures are taken from the annual Ko
	rner return KH03 "bed availability and occupancy".

General Practitioners

Lord Smith of Leigh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to reduce the wide variation in the proportion of general practitioners to population revealed in the recent health statistics.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The National Health Service performance indicators highlighted once again unacceptable variations in capacity, health needs, performance and health outcomes across the NHS.
	Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Government published plans to increase the number of places in United Kingdom medical schools by about 1,000 and by providing the cash to allow the NHS to take on an extra 7,000 doctors.
	The latest data show an increase of 215 in the number of general practitioner registrars since we came to office, with more registrars in post now than at any time since 1993; and we have provided funding for up to 150 additional GP registrar places from this year as well.
	We have also introduced personal medical services pilots: a flexible way of delivering family doctor services that are responsive to local needs and therefore particularly suited to address the problems of recruitment and retention in deprived and under-doctored areas.

Medicine Laboratory Scientific Officers: Remuneration

Lord Walton of Detchant: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the remuneration of medicine laboratory scientific officers should be considered by the appropriate National Health Service review body.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Our proposals for modernising National Health Service pay, which were published in February 1999 in Agenda for Change, include bringing some groups of highly qualified staff within the scope of the Nursing Pay Review Body (NPRB) without changing its fundamentally professional character.
	Initial discussions with NHS trade unions on pay modernisation resulted in the Joint Framework of Principles and Agreed Statement on the Way Forward, which was published on 8 October 1999. This sets out the following starting point for more detailed discussions with trade unions on the qualifying criteria for groups to come within the scope of the NPRB: professions with a minimum entry requirement of three years' educational study (or equivalent) to diploma level or higher in a health specific area (other than medicine or dentistry) and which are state registered and have a substantial majority of members employed in health care; exceptions might be agreed for staff groups which met the majority but not all of these conditions; staff groups which support professions added to the NPRB remit and who have a direct connection with the transferred groups similar to that between nursing auxiliaries and registered nurses would also need to be considered for transfer.
	The widening of the membership of the review body is conditional upon an agreement being reached in the current talks about pay modernisation.

Therapeutic Cloning Report

Lord Turnberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Chief Medical Officer's report on therapeutic cloning will become available.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group on Therapeutic Cloning has completed its work on the potential benefits, risks and the ethical issues raised by developments in stem cell research and cell nuclear replacement. The Government are now considering the report's recommendations.

High Garden Hedges Report

Baroness Gardner of Parkes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will report on the responses to the consultation paper on high hedges.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Government intend to publish the results from the consultation of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on possible solutions to the problems caused by high garden hedges and our decision on the way forward on this issue during August.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 11 July (WA 28), whether the Welsh Office will follow other departments by stating which cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency are for use by Ministers and senior officials in the Welsh Office; and what are the numbers, types and makes of vehicles used.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: I refer the noble Lord to the response given by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, on 24th July 2000 (col. WA 15).

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 11 July (WA 28), what are the security reasons preventing the release of the details of the cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the Welsh Office; and why these reasons do not apply to other government departments.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: Because the Wales Office uses only two cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency the provision of the level of detail requested may allow the identification of a ministerial vehicle while it is in use.

House of Lords Committee Rooms: Acoustics

Lord Bruce of Donington: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Whether work to improve the acoustics of House of Lords committee rooms can be started without delay.

Lord Boston of Faversham: New sound systems have been, or will be, installed in several Lords' committee rooms as part of the 10-year rolling programme of works. Microphones were installed in the Moses Room in 1993, and other improvements, such as quietening the ventilation system and installing additional loudspeakers, were made last year. Voice-activated microphones will be installed in Committee Room 4 in the coming Summer Recess as part of a refurbishment process that will also include the installation of air-conditioning. Committee Rooms 1, 2 and 3 will be similarly upgraded in the 2001 Summer Recess. There are no plans to upgrade Committee Rooms 3A, 4B and G, although microphones can be set up in Rooms 3A and 4B at the request of a committee.

Standards in Public Life Committee: Sixth Report

Lord Strabolgi: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to respond to the Sixth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: The Sixth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which focused on implementation of the committee's first report, was published in January. It concluded that the process of reform of standards of ethical behaviour in public life that had been set in train following the publication of its first report had been a success and made a number of further recommendations. I am grateful to Lord Neill and his committee for their continued work in this vital area.
	The Prime Minister has published today the Government's response to the committee's sixth report (Cm 4817) and copies are available in the Library.

House of Lords: Composition

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the membership of the House of Lords is composed of--
	(a) men of Afro-Caribbean ethnic origin;
	(b) women of Afro-Caribbean ethnic origin;
	(c) men of Asian ethnic origin; and
	(d) women of Asian ethnic origin.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: This information is not collected at present. In order to collect personal information such as this, the Information Office of the House of Lords would need the authority of a domestic sub-committee or the Offices Committee itself. It is for these committees whether they wish to consider the matter.

Civil Court Judgments: Enforcement Procedures Review

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment has been made of the enforcement procedures review which was due to end in June.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: We have been engaged in a comprehensive review of the enforcement of civil court judgments since 1998 and the first phase ended in June 2000. In that phase we have examined the present methods available for enforcement of county court and High Court judgments; assessed their effectiveness; and identified what changes would be necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the current methods of enforcement.
	Copies of the paper on this work have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It outlines the conclusions reached to date. Many of the proposals have already been exposed in consultation. This paper provides information on the current state of play of the enforcement review. The proposals remain subject to refinement, particularly as we examine in more detail the issues arising from the second phase of the review. Its terms of reference are to implement costed recommendations (including the production of a unified set of rules of court for enforcement); and to identify in the light of the amended procedures and revised powers of bailiffs the type of agent(s) or form of agency which should be responsible for carrying out those enforcement procedures; and to make costed recommendations.
	I am also pleased to announce that Professor Beatson has now submitted to me his Independent Review of Bailiff Law: Report, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. This report will inform the work of the second phase of the review.
	It is the Government's intention to issue a White Paper after the review is complete. It will also cover some issues which arise in the enforcement of the orders of the criminal courts.

Infantry: Primary Role Training

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which infantry battalions have not carried out primary role infantry training at battalion and formation level during the last five years and the last 10 years.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: In view of the various structural changes over the period concerned statistics on this basis would not be meaningful. Moreover such information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Nonetheless we are confident that the training levels of the infantry in the roles they fill are appropriate to the tasks likely to be asked of them. Their recent outstanding performance in Sierra Leone and Kosovo clearly demonstates this.

Operational Aircraft

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many operational aircraft by type are grounded due to a shortage of pilots.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are no operational aircraft grounded due to a shortage of pilots.